In The News

September 21, 2006
Short Track’s Best Coming To Pettit Center

The Pettit National Ice Center, a U.S. Olympic Training Site, is proud to serve as host for the Short Track American Cup I, September 29-30, 2006.

The American Cup is the first elite athlete competition of the season and will feature the best male and female short track speed skaters in the United States.

2006 Olympic dual-medal winner Shani Davis will be one of the competitors at the American Cup as he attempts to become the first skater ever to compete in the same Olympic Games in both short track and long track speed skating. Davis was on the US short track team in Salt Lake City at the 2002 Winter Olympics and then a member of the long track squad at the
2006 Torino Olympics.

Joining Davis at the American Cup will be the Pettit Center’s own Ryan Leveille. This southern gentleman originally from Georgia was also a member of the long track team at the 2006 Winter Olympics. Leveille will be racing both short track and long track as he attempts to make history, along with Davis, as the first skater ever to compete in both short track and long track in the same Olympics. Both Davis and Leveille are shooting for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

“I know I’ve got Vancouver on my mind already” said Leveille after a recent Pettit Center training session. “I continue to chase my dream here in Milwaukee as we open the season with the first big meet of the year. Expect some great skating!”

Upon conclusion of the American Cup, US Speedskating will be choosing it’s World Team members to compete on the international short track circuit throughout the 2006-2007 skating season.

The future of the sport of short track speed skating will begin to take shape as the gun starts another competitive season at the Pettit Center. Along with the short track World Team, US Speedskating’s long track World Team will also be selected at the Pettit Center in
mid-October.

For more information on the Short Track American Cup to be held at the Pettit Center, please contact Rob Multerer by phone at 414.266.0100, ext. 132 or email at rmulterer@thepettit.com.

Contact: Rob Multerer
Director of Operations
Pettit National Ice Center
414.266.0100, ext. 132
rmulterer@thepettit.com